Mashups

I read recently on a music blog that mashups are so 2004 . . . that they were over after Dangermouse released the Grey Album.

Of course, this is absolutely absurd.

A great mashup is like a great cover - revealing more about the original music and about the dj than you would have thought possible.

Not all mashups are created equally. The worst I've heard is the Wonderwall/Boulevard of Broken Dreams mashup called Wonderwall Boulevard because it sounds like two completely different songs smushed together into something less than either song is separately. I would put the Dre Skull mashup of ODB's Got Your Money with Louie, Louie into this category.

Far, far more clever and well-executed is "Work It Out" by Lenlow, which combines songs by Beyoncé, Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5, and Dee-Lite into a great new song. Unlike some mashups, the intensity doesn't drop as the song transistions.

Into this category, I would add Hung Up On Soul (Death Cab For Cutie vs. Madonna) by Party Ben, Always With You (Willie Nelson vs. U2 vs. MARRS) by Divide & Kreate, and Real Back Poppin' (Cheryl Lynn vs. Fat Joe & Nelly) by DJ Axel.

All of these songs can be found on this (free) collection, along with other exceptionally produced mashups at Bootie USA.

Girl Talk made many Best of 2006 lists for his mashup "Bounce That." Combining unexpected elements, Girl Talk captures a virtuoso dj performance with an integration of sample after sample into a cohesive sonic journey. Also contributing to the success of "Bounce That" is the use of a screwed mix of Kryptonite by Big Boi & the Purple Ribbon All-Stars at the start of the song.

You can download "Bounce That" and "Hold Up" from Girl Talk's website.